My Outfit Monday: Cookie Sunday

Some might say one of the best parts about the holiday season is all the treats that are suddenly ... everywhere.

This past weekend, I walked away with a whole container full of homemade goodies after attending an annual cookie exchange with a group of other women from work.

I won't go into the whole story here, but let's just say that there was lots of laughter, sympathetic/embarrassed looks and a healthy dose of shame when I revealed that the cookies I brought to share were from none other than ... Great Grandma Publix. (Sorry, Mom.)

But you guys don't care about that. Take a look at what I wore!

Starting from the bottom up, you'll notice I went with gold strappy wedges. They were about $25 at Misred Outfitters on Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete, a charming vintage store I highly recommend. I haven't had a chance to break them in too much, so I jumped at the chance to rock them on Sunday.

I picked up the dress on Black Friday at Sunshine Thrift in St. Pete. It was something like $3 (half off its original price). I love it because it has one of those forgiving stretchy bands at the waist, but to dress it up a little I tied a rust, cream and purple colored scarf around the middle. That also came from Sunshine Thrift, and it was only 99 cents!

I topped it off with a black half sweater I got ages ago from Marshall's for $12.99.

Absent in the picture is a long strand of coral-colored beads I wore around my neck, but they kept getting in the way. You can see them here, in a pic I took with Deal Diva Stephanie, who also looked fabulous. Check out her shoes!

About the bloggers

Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.

Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.